Our Commitment
We strive to deliver high quality, diverse and original teaching material to our students, create engaging projects that foster student growth, both academically and professionally, and to implement best practices in mentoring to foster the scientific curiosity of our students. Our team reaches out to all levels, from sophomore to graduate students, to whom we transfer our enthusiasm and passion for the geosciences. Working with actors of local communities allows us to design a learning ecosystem where our students can grow their interest for a career in geoscience.
Our Goals
- Deliver high quality educational experience to students
- Promote Geosciences
- Serve as liaison agents between the academic world and local communities
Our Team
Dr. Judy Haschenburger
University of Texas at San Antonio
Judy.Haschenburger@utsa.edu
Judy's research investigates sediment transport processes in rivers, with current projects addressing the dispersion and attrition of gravel, the transport of fine-grained sediment as bedload, and the storage and exchange of bed sediment over a decadal time scale. She teaches Geomorphology, River Science, and the two core requirements for the graduate program in geosciences, Current Topics and Research Design.
Dr. Alexis Godet
University of Texas at San Antonio
Alexis.Godet@utsa.edu
Alex's current research at UTSA involves carbonate sedimentology and diagenesis, chemostratigraphy, and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. He is teaching Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, (undergraduate level courses), Petroleum Geology (undergraduate and graduate level), Advanced Stratigraphy, and Basin Analysis, Hydrocarbon Exploration (AAPG IBA competition), and Carbonate through Time (graduate level courses).
Janet Vote
University of Texas at San Antonio
Janet.Vote@utsa.edu
Janet's research interests relate to Middle Permian ammonoids, biostratigraphy, paleoenvironment reconstruction, and sedimentary processes. Teaching interests are Earth History, Paleontology, and interactive online course development in the core curriculum.
Dustin Smyth
Northwest Vista College
dsmyth@alamo.edu
Dustin has 15 years of experience in the private sector working as a geologist in the fields of Geologic Hazard Assessment, Karst Features, Environmental Assessment and Mitigation, Geotechnical Engineering, and Construction Materials Testing. She is the Geology Coordinator at Northwest Vista College and teaches Physical Geology, Earth Science, Environmental Science, and Oceanography.
Elizabeth Montgomery
Palo Alto College
ealger@alamo.edu
Elizabeth's research focused on stable isotope geochemistry to reconstruct paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic conditions in Cretaceous lacustrine deposits. Elizabeth is the Lead Geology Instructor at Palo Alto College teaching Earth Science and Oceanography. She is an advocate for sustainability and experiential learning, serving as an advisor for PAC Club Earth and co-chairing the PAC Viva Verde Committee.
Marc Keltner
Northwest Vista College
mkeltner@alamo.edu
Dr. Simon van Dijk
Northwest Vista College
svandijk@alamo.edu
Simon is a Professor of Chemistry at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio. He has been teaching General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry at NVC since 2005. Simon is Discipline Coordinator for Chemistry at Northwest Vista College. Before turning to full-time teaching, he spent 20+ years in biochemical research focusing on structure and function of protein hormones and growth factors in reproductive endocrinology and in bone development. He also spent several years in the biotech industry, developing clinical trials for cancer drugs and osteoporosis drugs.
Dr. Prakash Nair
Northwest Vista College
pnair2@alamo.edu
Prakash has been teaching Chemistry at Northwest Vista College since 2006. Prior to full-time teaching, he was a research faculty at UT Health San Antonio and has several years of research experience in cancer biology.
Mahsa Afra
University of Texas at San Antonio
Mahsa.Afra@utsa.edu
Mahsa joined UTSA in Fall 2023. Mahsa's research interests include geophysics, seismology, and data science. Teaching interests are general geology, mineralogy, GIS, and general geophysics.
Dr. Lisa Garbrecht
Texas Advanced Computing Center
lgarbrecht@tacc.utexas.edu
Lisa's research interest is in using culturally responsive methods to assess student learning, attitudes, and outcomes in K-20 STEM education programs. She leads the evaluations of several programs designed to broaden participation in STEM education and careers.
Dr. Madeline Haynes
Texas Advanced Computing Center
mhaynes@tacc.utexas.edu
Madeline's research interests are in increasing underrepresented students' access to and participation in STEM education and careers, and developing students' self-efficacy and sense of belonging in STEM.
Dr. Cynthia Lima
University of Texas at San Antonio
Cynthia.Lima@utsa.edu
Cynthia's research examines how culturally and linguistically diverse pre-service teachers and K-20 students develop scientific ideas and practices in contextualized learning environments, and science assessment validity issues. She teaches the Science Methods course for elementary teachers (undergraduate level), and courses from the graduate iSTEM Education certificate.
Dr. Anne-Marie Nuñez
University of Texas at El Paso
amnunez9@utep.edu
Anne-Marie's award-winning work employs sociological approaches to advance how postsecondary education institutions (particularly Hispanic-Serving Institutions) and scientific disciplinary cultures (particularly computer science and geoscience) structure and sustain equitable opportunities for historically underserved groups in education. Anne-Marie is the Executive Director, Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success and Distinguished Centennial Professor, University of Texas at El Paso.
Corrinne Kotara
University of Texas at San Antonio
Corrinne.Gauntt@my.utsa.edu
Corrinne's research interests are fluvial geomorphology, geohazards, groundwater vulnerability, and geographic information systems. Her graduate research at UTSA involves estimating the volume of sediment stored in fluvial terraces on the lower reach of the San Antonio River, Texas.
Cassidy Lane
University of Texas at San Antonio
Cassidy.Lane@my.utsa.edu
Cassidy's research interests are water quality and conservation, ecosystem and public health, and the cycling of different metals and organic compounds in surface waters. Her graduate research at UTSA will involve understanding toxic trace element contamination and groundwater-surface water interactions in the Brazos River.
Dianna Price
University of Texas at San Antonio
Dianna.Price@my.utsa.edu
Dianna's research is focused on reconstructing paleoenvironments near dinosaur track sites using stable isotope and elemental geochemistry, environmental studies, field methods and drones. Her current research aims to revisit several historic traditionally documented dinosaur tracks in Texas using high-resolution photogrammetry techniques to digitally document, archive and 3D model at-risk tracksites using UAV drones.
Deashia Williams
University of Texas at San Antonio
Deashia.Williams@my.utsa.edu
Deashia's research interests are climate change, geohazards, and data science. Her graduate research at UTSA will involve the potential effects of climate change on flooding of the San Antonio River and applied machine learning.
Disclaimer
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number 2119446. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
